Kristjaan Speakman addresses Sunderland's transfer business and explains loan exits
Sunderland's sporting director Kristjaan Speakman stated he is “really pleased” with the transfer window following a chaotic final deadline day.
Under pressure to deliver the goods alongside club owner Kyril Louis-Dreyfus, the 45-year-old duly did just that with a host of new signings. The summer saw nine new arrivals with Simon Moore, Alan Browne, Ian Poveda, Blondy Nna Noukeu, Wilson Isidor, Milan Aleksić, Chris Mepham, Salis Abdul Samed and Ahmed Abdullahi all heading to Wearside.
The bonus is, only Browne has featured so far in first-team Championship action while the club opened up their campaign with a blitz of victories.
Read more: Premier League ambition can be met at Sunderland as new recruit spells out plan
Read more: Sunderland 'time to settle' message explains approach as club resist new lure to great effect
Four wins from four sees the Black Cats sit proudly at the top of the pile and the departure of Jack Clarke seems like just a slight aggravation rather than the wholesale disaster everyone imagined it would be. Add to the new boys the fact Dan Ballard, Chris Rigg and Jobe Bellingham signed new deals, it has been an excellent spell for the Wearsiders.
Speaking to safc.com, Speakman reflected on a summer of progress, discussed the club's start to the campaign and much more.
“To be able to add the type of quality that we have into the starting XI and on the substitutes’ bench is really positive,” Speakman said. “We also couldn’t be more delighted with the team’s performance, and I’m really pleased for Régis [Le Bris, new head coach] to come in as a new coach, embrace everything about Sunderland and get off to such a positive start.”
Le Bris has shown himself to be a calm operator focusing purely on the players he has while ignoring the noise around who might come and go.
To win four games in those circumstances while playing a fast, attacking game and the ability to press high, far exceeds most observers' expectations.
“We’ve always spoken about getting balance in the squad and that’s really important – we think the signings this summer have put us in a really positive place,” added Speakman.
“The group is really competitive – we want to try to ensure we provide opportunities to our younger players, but at the same time, they have to perform and train at the right level.”
Speakman also highlighted the importance of retaining the club’s top talents and reasoned: “Jobe, Chris Rigg and Dan Ballard all signed new deals at the Stadium of Light this summer. Lots is made of the transfer window in terms of signing players. We had six or seven players under the watchful eye of other clubs where enquiries were made, but we managed to stand firm.
“We’re trying to build something and not take something apart – we will lose players, but as long as we keep growing and keep becoming stronger, that’s the most important thing.”
Several players also moved out on loan, and Speakman explained the reasons behind their departures. “The idea with all the loans is to try and move the players forward,” he added. “It’s part of their progression and part of their development journey, and a really important part of what we do.
“We can’t provide the right level and experience for every single player, and we have to use some external teams to do that – they’ll all be closely monitored.”
The next big test for Le Bris’s side will come on Saturday when they travel to south Devon to face Wayne Rooney’s Plymouth Argyle.
It will be interesting to see who makes it into the starting XI, with Dan Neil available after suspension, and seemingly ready to take the place of either Browne or Rigg although both were superb against Portsmouth last time out in a 3-1 success.